Mayor sacks precinct chief

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered on Monday Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Ronald dela Rosa to relieve San Pedro Police Station chief Antonio E. Rivera for being remiss in his job.

The mayor, during her weekly press briefing at her office, said Rivera does not meet her expectations from a station commander.

This came after a certain Romar Mercado Salinas, one of the suspects in the robbery-slay of gym instructress Cheryl Gay Grafilo, was found dead at the same place where the victim was murdered.

Another suspect in the killing of Grafilo, Chearamae Fuertes, was also killed in a shootout with the police in the morning of August 30.

Fuertes was killed in a shootout with arresting policemen at his house on Panganiban Street, Barangay 10-A on Thursday.

"I told (DCPO chief Ronald) dela Rosa that it's unacceptable for the killings to happen. Being the chief of police, he should have managed that," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor also issued an order for Senior Superintendent dela Rosa to look for Rivera's replacement as soon as possible.

In her letter, the mayor denounced any form or murders, saying this will affect the image of the entire police force of Davao City.

She said she wanted Rivera's replacement to be an "equally competent officer who can manage effectively and execute the duty of law enforcement and the protection of lives and properties."

"I would like to remind you (dela Rosa) and the entire DCPO that to allow murders similar to that of Salinas to continue happening makes a mockery of your capacity to lawfully protect and serve Davao City according to your sworn oath," the mayor said.

The mayor said she reminded dela Rosa that their primary concern and job is to serve and protect the public and the two murders in just two days is unforgiveable.

"I should emphasize to all DCPO personnel that there is no shortcut to good police work that builds a case against the suspect," the mayor said in the last part of her letter addressed to dela Rosa.

Case reopening

The mayor also ordered the reopening and reinvestigation of Grafilo's death and a thorough investigation on Salinas' death.

The mayor said she will not tolerate such criminal acts to flourish in Davao City.

Dela Rosa, for his part, vowed to probe on the two incidents.

"We will work on the matter, to investigate the case of Grafilo and to look after the killer of the killer," he said, adding that he will never allow vigilantism in the city.

Salinas was found dead with 23 stab wounds, two days after Grafilo's death, in the same area where Grafilo was killed.

A note placed on the cadaver of the suspect read: "Cherryl Gay Grafilo, forgive me for robbing and killing you."

Salinas was tagged by two other suspects earlier arrested by the police. The other suspects were identified as Edre Galladora, 22, and Renante Sereno, 32.

A third suspect identified as Manuel Ceballos surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group after learning the death of Salinas.